Abstract: A siphon jet is attached to a dry hydrant which is in communication with a body of water to increase the flow of fluid to the dry hydrant and assist in overcoming the effects of atmospheric pressure and gravity in drawing the water. A pressurized fluid source can add fluid to the siphon assembly and this forces water from the body up the hydrant pipe. Also, the fluid from the pressurized fluid source can be added forward of a valve to fill the hydrant pipe which thus minimizes the duration of priming operations.

Abstract: An electronic component including an electrically erasable non-volatile memory for storing information structured in logical entities that are managed by a memory manager. The memory is segmented into pages for the purpose of erasing the information. The memory manager is programmed to organize at least one type of logical entity into pages. Each of the logical entities occupies, at least in part, an integer number of pages in an exclusive manner. This technique is applicable to electronic components to which the electrical power supply is liable to be interrupted in an untimely manner.

Abstract: A meter sensor light tamper detector includes at least one light emitter and one or more sensors. The sensors have some parameter, i.e., conductivity in the case of phototransistor sensors, to provide an indication that they are in the presence of light. The system also includes a microprocessor which is capable of independent control of the light emitter and the sensors, and can determine the state of the electrical parameter, i.e., conductivity or nonconductivity, of the sensors. The microprocessor determines whether the sensors are being tampered with by checking the state of the sensors when a particular light condition is known to be present or absent.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of monitoring variation in the current value of a rate of fluid flow through a fluid meter which includes a measurement unit and a rotary shaft connected to said measurement unit and suitable for rotating about its own axis when a volume of fluid passes through the measurement unit, the method consisting in detecting rotary movements rather than rotation of the shaft at a sampling frequency that is variable in application of a predetermined sampling relationship, said frequency being defined as a function of at least one predetermined fluid flow rate value, and in electronically processing bits corresponding to detection and to non-detection of a rotary movement of the shaft at said sampling frequency in order to determine the current value of the fluid flow rate over a continuum of flow rates and relative to the predetermined fluid flow rate value included in said continuum of flow rates.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a set of electronic modules for memory cards, using flip chips. A plurality of through holes are formed through an insulating sheet substrate to be filled with a conductive material for the purpose of establishing electrical continuity between first and second faces of the substrate. The first face is designed to receive contacts for making an electrical connection with an external connector, and the second face is designed to receive interconnection patterns for connection with a flip chip. The electrical contacts are silkscreened on the first face of the substrate, with the holes then being partially filled with a conductive ink. The interconnection patterns are silkscreened on the second face of the substrate, with the holes then being filled up with the ink. Flip chips are then mounted on the interconnection patterns.

Abstract: A data collection system in which a number of remote terminals (RT) transmit data packets for reception by one or more fixed data collectors (FDC) or a portable data collector (PDC). Each remote terminal (RT) transmits data in two frequency sub-bands to which the fixed and portable data collectors are respectively tuned. Channel capacity is improved in at least the fixed data collector (FDC) sub-band by the use in the remote terminal of minimum shift keying (MSK) encoding and pseudo-random variation of a frequency error applied to the packet transmission frequency for successive packets. In the fixed data collectors dual fast-Fourier transform signal processing enables the interpretation of simultaneous packets with different error frequencies. The use of a single design of remote terminal (RT) in conjunction with portable data collectors (PDC) simplifies system set-up, with the portable collectors providing coverage for those areas where a fixed data collector (FDC) network has yet to be established.

Abstract: An isolated current shunt transducer includes a current shunt that produces a voltage difference between the current shunt's first and second ends, with the voltage difference being related to a current flowing through the current shunt. The transducer also includes an isolation barrier positioned between the current shunt and a processing circuit to isolate the processing circuit from a voltage that is common to both ends of the current shunt. Two or more transducers may be included in a power meter for measuring power delivered to a load by a multiple phase power distribution circuit. In such a power meter, a processing circuit is connected to the current shunts through the isolation barriers and is operable to produce multiple phase power measurements based on the differences between the voltages at the first and second ends of the current shunts.

Abstract: A technique of coating an electronic component with a resin. A semiconductor chip is placed on an insulating film carrying electric contacts to which the semiconductor chip is connected by connection wires passing through holes formed in the insulating film. The holes in the insulating film are placed around a zone for receiving the semiconductor chip, and the semiconductor chip is placed on the insulating film in such zone. The connection wires are connected between the semiconductor chip and the electric contacts, and a drop of resin is deposited on the semiconductor chip and on the connection wires. This drop forms an outline defined solely by the holes due to surface tension applied by the resin retained in the holes. This arrangement is applicable to electronic modules for memory cards.

Abstract: An improved laminated ferromagnetic FIG. 8 power meter core is provided. The core is fabricated from a plurality of ferromagnetic plates and is formed in the general shape of a FIG. 8. The central leg of the core has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of other parts of the core. The core gap, in which a Hall-effect sensor is located, has gap faces with chamfered or rounded over edges to reduce fringing and bypassing effects. The core is formed without discontinuous corners that can result in local saturation and, in use, accommodates electrical power conductors in an over-under looping relationship through the openings of the core to provide a more homogeneous magnetic flux within the core and thus more reliable metering. The overall result is a core with a higher saturation point and thus a wider dynamic range than prior art cores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for driving two mechanical members in rotation about an axis by magnetic coupling of the attractive type, the system comprises respective magnetic elements secured to each of said mechanical members, the two magnetic elements being concentric, one of them being made up of two identical magnetic rings of minimum radius R.sub.3 and of maximum radius R.sub.4, and the other one of them being made up of a magnetic ring having a minimum radius R.sub.1 and a maximum radius R.sub.2, with its midplane perpendicular to the axis of rotation being offset by a distance d from the midplanes of each of said two identical rings. Each ring possesses magnetization in a direction contained in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Each ring also possesses N magnetic poles uniformly distributed around said axis of rotation. The ratio 2d/.vertline.(R.sub.3 +R.sub.4)-(R.sub.1 +R.sub.2).vertline. lies in the range 0.2 to 0.8.

Abstract: A device for monitoring power in a wye power service having three phases includes a sampling element arranged and configured to sample a current value and a voltage value from each of the three phases. A processor, coupled to said sampling element, calculates power either (i) by using the current value and the voltage value for the at least one phase when the voltage value for the at least one phase is available, or (ii) by using the current value for the at least one phase and the voltage values for the other two phases if the voltage value for the at least one phase is unavailable.

Abstract: A portable interface for one or more electronic smart cards (74, 76), the interface being pluggable in a card reader, and comprising a module (80) that is designed to be received in the card reader and having at one end pluggable means (16) for making electrical connection with the card reader, an endpiece (18, 46, 78) secured to the other end of the module (10, 80) and including a slot (24, 48, 50) for insertion of the smart card, a housing (82, 84) designed to receive at least a portion of the smart card and passing through at least a portion of said endpiece, said housing guide and positioning means (101, 103, 102, 104) for the smart card, and electrical connection means (86, 96) for making electrical connection with the electrical contact tabs of the smart card.

Abstract: An active filter for compensation of polluting harmonics on an electricity distribution network comprising a source of energy (19, 20), a bridge converter (21) connected between the energy source and the network, control means which control the bridge converter in order to compensate for the polluting harmonics, characterized in that the state of the energy source (19, 20) is independant of the control of the bridge converter carried out by the control means (22) and in that the control means (22) control the injection of the harmonic components independantly of the state of the energy source.

Abstract: A method and a unit for packaging a plurality of cards, in particular memory cards, with opposing surfaces of successive cards being adjacent to one another. Each of the cards includes at least one surface that can be damaged by contact or exposure to another card. A plurality of dividers is provided, each divider including fastening means for securing each divider to another divider. Each divider is placed between two successive cards in such a manner that each damageable surface is protected by a divider. The fastening means cooperate mutually in order to fasten together the plurality of dividers so that they can be removed simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting data from a monitoring station using frequency hopping and interval hopping as described. The output frequency of a transmitter in the monitoring station is hopped between selected output frequencies by retrieving random numbers from a table, generating a control voltage corresponding to the retrieved random number, applying the control voltage to an RF oscillator and transmitting a signal from a transmitter in the monitoring station using the signal from the RF oscillator as a carrier. The output frequency of the transmitter is limited between a maximum output frequency and a minimum output frequency by comparing the retrieved random number to data limits stored in a memory in the transmitter and rejecting retrieved random numbers outside of the retrieved limits. Interval hopping is realized by selecting a random number from the random number table, multiplying the random number by a fixed increment and adding the product to a minimum time interval.

Abstract: A strainer for use with a dry hydrant having a fluid inlet comprises an inlet tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being substantially capped, and the second end being connected to the dry hydrant fluid inlet. A plurality of apertures are formed in the inlet tube and are disposed between the first end and the second end. The apertures are disposed in a substantially v-shaped pattern, whereby an apex of the substantially v-shaped pattern is spaced proximal to the second end. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apertures spaced proximal to the first end of the inlet member have diameters greater than diameters of the apertures spaced proximal to the second end of the inlet member. In operation in a dry hydrant system, the strainer provides for uniform suction zone throughout the inlet pipe, and provides uniform fluid drafting flow.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluidic oscillator which is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane of symmetry (P), the oscillator comprising means for generating an oscillating two-dimensional fluid jet, an obstacle provided in its front portion with a cavity that is swept by the oscillating jet, and a longitudinal element disposed in the empty space situated downstream from said obstacle in such a manner as to partially subdivide said space into two identical zones, and to form between them at least one communication channel for the fluid. The invention also provides a fluid flow meter including such a fluidic oscillator.

Abstract: A bracket for use in a meter head of a rotary gas meter supports and secures a plurality of meter components, which have traditionally been mounted in separate housings. The bracket has a first pair of opposing slots for receiving a processor printed circuit board (PCB) and a second pair of slots for receiving a liquid crystal display PCB. The PCBs are held in place with a pair of screws extending through the bracket and through the PCBs. The bracket defines a walled enclosure within which a battery pack may be received. The rear portion of the bracket has legs for mounting the bracket to a metal plate located at a rear portion of the rotary gas meter. The legs also space the walled enclosure and the processor PCB from the metal plate so that some mechanical gearing may be received between the bracket and the metal plate. The processor PCB receives inputs from a reed switch, pressure transducer, and temperature sensor, all of which are located within the rotary head.

Abstract: A card comprising an electronic module having a memory, into which a designated number of consumable units has been stored, and a metal electrical contact zone. At least one part of the contact zone is covered with a layer of readily removable material which is applied before the card is delivered to points of sale. This material must be removed to enable the card to be read. Once having been removed, the material indicates that the card has been used so that consumer fraud can be prevented in terms of the number of consumable units retained in the memory.